Meet Miss Scatter: How Postcrossing Gave My Old Mailbox a New Life

An old mailbox, a steep street, and unexpected friendships.

There's an older lady at the top of my street who's recently developed quite the social life. She's got a few wrinkles, doesn't get out much, and shares her space with about a dozen neighbors.

Her name is Miss Scatter. Truth be told, I just named her this morning. She's my mailbox.

Before you wonder whether I've had one cup of coffee too many (I'm already on latte #2!), there's a story here!

Miss Scatter has spent decades perched beside a busy road at the TOP of a ridiculously steep street. She's weather-worn, a bit tattered, and has certainly seen better days. Between the traffic and that hill (puff, puff!), stopping to visit her hasn't exactly been something I've looked forward to. In fact, I don't stop nearly as often as I might otherwise.

Until recently when I discovered Postcrossing!

If you haven't heard of it, Postcrossing is an international postcard exchange that connects people through real postcards sent and received around the world. Actual postcards! With handwriting, stamps, and little glimpses into someone else's world.

And suddenly, Miss Scatter has friends!

I wonder what Mr. McFeely, the cheerful “Speedy Delivery” man from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, would think of her newfound social life. I suspect Miss Scatter would have plenty to tell him. She might even keep him chatting long enough to make one of those speedy deliveries a little less speedy!

Oh, the conversations those two could have!

Admittedly, I'm something of an organized minimalist. I like my spaces uncluttered, BUT...I've always enjoyed wandering through antique shops and vintage stores.

The creativity people bring to repurposing and recycling amazes me!

Which reminds me of my great aunt Dottie. In her golden years, she crocheted hats out of plastic bread bags. Yes, HATS! Made from bread bags! Can you imagine?!

At the time, my twenty something self apparently thought she was much smarter than that sweet senior saint. I didn't keep the hat she made, and oh, how I wish I had it today. What I wouldn't give to see one of Aunt Dottie's bread-bag creations again.

Love you, Aunt Dottie!

I have family and friends who are exceptionally good at seeing new possibilities in old things. A garden hose becomes a clever way to hang and display something. A worn-out object becomes a treasure. Something headed for the rubbish suddenly finds a whole new purpose.

Really?! Who thinks of these things?! Maybe you?

Well, apparently some wonderfully imaginative people do. And I rather enjoy seeing what they'll think of next.

Which brings me back to Miss Scatter.

She's still wearing the same old outfit. Still standing beside the same busy road. Still sharing space with her neighbors.

But now I see her differently.

And it's not because I'm excited to find something other than the usual mail waiting inside.

It's the people.

Somewhere, perhaps thousands of miles away or just a few states over, a person chooses a postcard. They turn it over and write something. Maybe they share a bit about where they live, what they enjoy, or what made them smile that day.

Then that postcard begins its journey.

And eventually, if all goes well, Miss Scatter gets to welcome it.

For a little while, she keeps that connection safe until I come along to retrieve it.

Isn't that a super great thought?

A rather ordinary, weather-worn mailbox holding something quite extraordinary: a few moments of another person's life, shared with someone they've never met.

And on the other end of the journey, one of my postcards may be waiting inside someone else's mailbox.

Kindred Spirits, Connected by Postcards

Here's something else that makes me smile.

I'd already begun my own little adventure of scattering joyfulness across all 50 states when I discovered Postcrossing.

Imagine finding an entire community of people who also delight in sending little greetings out into the world!

Different people, different places, different reasons for writing. Yet somehow, we're finding ways to remind another human being that someone, somewhere, is thinking of them.

Kindred spirits, connected by postcards.

I love it!

And what a happy bit of timing that I was able to participate in World Postcard Day on October 1! I'm still so new to this wonderful community, and already I've found myself looking at maps, learning about places I've never visited, and wondering about people whose paths may never physically cross mine.

My very first postcard received through Postcrossing was even addressed to "Joy Scatter Joyfulness."

I smiled when I saw that.

Scattering joyfulness is something I've been trying to do for years, long before Miss Scatter acquired her new social calendar.

It's part of how I try to live my faith, by noticing people, encouraging them, and sharing God's love in the ordinary moments we're given.

A conversation with someone in a coffee shop. A smile exchanged in a grocery store. A handwritten greeting that arrives when someone least expects it.

Or a postcard traveling across an ocean.

Different places. Different people. Sometimes only a few words.

Yet a connection happens.

And perhaps that's what I appreciate most about this newfound adventure. Not that something happy might be waiting for me, but that somebody took a moment out of their own day to reach toward another human being.

I don't know about you, but I think that's super duper wonderful.

Meanwhile, Back at the Mailboxes...

So, Miss Scatter and I have some adventures ahead of us!

She hasn't gotten any younger, the hill certainly hasn't gotten any flatter, and those cars haven't stopped whizzing by. But I suspect she's rather pleased with her new social life.

And me? Well, I've apparently become her enthusiastic social secretary! I'm certainly finding more reasons to stop and visit, carefully, of course.

I do wonder what her dozen or so mailbox neighbors think about all this. Perhaps they're a bit jealous of her newfound attention. Or maybe they've been having fascinating lives of their own, and I simply haven't thought to ask!

Oh, and I recently discovered that Postcrossing once invited people to share photographs of their own happy mailboxes. Apparently, Miss Scatter isn't the only one with an interesting story to tell!

Now I'm curious...

Have you ever looked at something familiar and suddenly seen it in an entirely new way? Or met someone unexpectedly and discovered you had more in common than you ever imagined?

And here's another thought. When was the last time you surprised someone with a handwritten hello, just because?

You never know whose day you might brighten. Or which old mailbox might be waiting for a new friend!

P.S. Miss Scatter sends her regards. She's rather enjoying all this attention!

Where will you scatter joyfulness today?